Nowadays there is discussion all over the world about warring Iran. Today this Islamic country is fighting eye to eye with a powerful country like America. But when we look into history, we come to know that despite being repeatedly broken and distorted by many rulers, this country stands up because its roots are very strong. He is a fighter and also a sharp person. Their wisdom becomes apparent when we look at Iran’s relations with India during the Mughal period. Iran has been a very strong ally for the Mughals. Many things went from India to Iran and many things came from Iran to India.
Come, on this pretext, let us know which things the Mughals used to get from Iran and which things they sent from India?
Iran horses were the backbone of war
The Mughal army depended on horsemen. Only a good horse made a good soldier. Horses were available in India but not as strong and fast as those of Central Asia or Iran. That’s why the Mughals used to import horses from outside. Iran had a special status in this. Many horses came from Qazvin, Khorasan and other areas of Iran.
Caravans of horses used to reach India via Kandahar. These horses were used for the Mughal royal army, for the personal squads of nobles and chieftains and for royal mail and messengers. Good breed horses were very expensive. In return, clothes, spices, precious stones and cash were given. Ishqati Terman’s book The Empire of the Great Mughals states that Central Asian and Iranian horses were very important for the Mughal army. Without them, the cavalry squads would become weak.
Iranian horses also had importance in the Mughal war. Photo: AI picture
Weapons and military technology
The Mughals themselves also made weapons. There were artillery in cities like Delhi, Agra, Lahore. But many types of weapons and technology also came from Iran and that region. Gunpowder and cannon were already in use in the Turko-Iranian world. This knowledge was more mature there. The Mughals learned from the same tradition. Many artisans, blacksmiths and cannon makers came from Iran. He was kept in the service of the Mughal court. They brought new technology. They knew how to make better guns and cannons.
M. Ethel Meryack’s book The Mughal Empire records that Mughal artillery was greatly influenced by Turko-Iranian tradition. Armor, special types of swords and daggers, decorative shields and carved helmets also came from Iran. The workmanship in these was very fine. There was penmanship, gold and silver inlay and Persian codex writing. These things were used in war and also as rewards and symbols of respect. Emperors like Shahjahan and Akbar Iranians often gave armor and swords as rewards to the rich.
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drug, addiction and business
Opium was also made in India. It was cultivated in Bihar, Malwa etc., but there was also international trade of opium during the Mughal era. Opium was exported to Iran, Central Asia and further to the Ottoman areas. Opium mostly went from India to Iran. Iranian physicians and hakims knew well some of the techniques of opium testing, purification and medicinal use. Persian medical texts also had an influence on India, so some medicines made from opium, their prescriptions and sometimes finished medicinal products were imported from Iran. Overall, opium was not just an intoxicant. It was both a medicine and a commercial item.
Even during the reign of Mughal emperor Shahjahan, things used to come from Iran.
Precious items and royal hobbies
It was not just war material that came from Iran. There was much more to come. Iranian carpets were in demand all over the world. The Mughal court was also its big customer. Carpets in areas like Qam, Isfahan, Tabriz were made of fine wool and silk. Flowery designs, hunting scenes, pictures of royal gardens etc. would have been embroidered in it. These carpets were laid in royal courts, mosques and palaces. Some carpets were made especially for the Mughal emperors. Persian silk, brocade and expensive clothes also came. These clothes were used in royal attire, court attire and gifts.
There is mention of Iran-India silk trade in Peter Jackson’s book The Delhi Sultanate and research done on the later Mughal period. Iran was a major center of knowledge and art at that time. The Mughal court also took knowledge from there. Persian books (poetry, history, tasawwuf, philosophy), beautiful copies of the Quran, famous calligraphers and miniature paintings etc. were imported from Iran. Many Iranian scholars and artists came and settled in India. Iranian mullahs, poets and historians played a big role in the courts of Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan.
Spices, metals and everyday goods
Not only from Iran, a lot of goods also came and went through Iran. Items like black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cotton cloth, precious stones and pearls, sugar etc. were exported from India to Iran and beyond. Similarly, horses, some metals or metal products, dry fruits, glass utensils, special types of knives and tools were imported from there. Due to this, the trade relationship between the two areas deepened.
The path was also important
The route was very important for Mughal-Iran trade. The most important route was to Kandahar. Kandahar was sometimes occupied by Mughals and sometimes by Iranians. Many battles took place over its possession. Because the one who had Kandahar in his hands, had the land trade of India-Iran in his hands. Caravans used to pass through this route. They used to bring back horses, weapons, carpets, books and many other goods. In this way war and trade were linked together.
Why was all this necessary?
The Mughal empire was very big. His army was very large. For such a big army, taking things from outside was both a compulsion and a necessity. Local horses were not always sufficient, so horses had to be imported from Iran and Central Asia. New weapons technology often came from the Turko-Iranian region, which kept the Mughal army modern. Opium, medicines and Persian books were essential for the daily life and education of the court. Expensive carpets and silk fabrics were important in showcasing Mughal grandeur and grandeur. In this way, Iran was not just a war ally or an enemy. It was also a major trading and cultural partner.
Also read: Why did Dara Shikoh become immortal in history even after losing to Aurangzeb?